A golden eagle grabs a drone during a military training exercise at Mont de Marsan French Air Force base in southwestern France on Feb. 10, 2017.Regis Duvignau—Reuters
When it comes to defending against pesky drones, the French military has gone to the birds.
These drone-hunting birds of prey are being trained at a French Air Force base in Southwestern France. They’re literally born on top of drones, and kept there during early stages of feeding. When they’re ready to fly, they’re brought to a field to intercept drones. In turn, they’re rewarded with meat.
“These eagles can spot the drones several thousand meters (yards) away and neutralize them,” Jean-Christophe Zimmerman, a French Air Force general, told Reuters.
The idea is to offer a solution to sneaky smaller drones near military bases, airports and other sensitive sites. (They’re not meant to tangle with militarized Predator-style drones.) The eagles are seen as safer than other solutions, like shooting down drones or using nets to capture them.
A golden eagle grabs a drone during a military training exercise at Mont de Marsan French Air Force base in southwestern France on Feb. 10, 2017. Regis Duvignau—ReutersLeather hoods for eagles sit in cubicles that are used as part of military training for combat against drones in Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base in Southwestern France on Feb. 10, 2017. Regis Duvignau—ReutersFeathers of a golden eagle are pictured during military training for combat against drones in Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base in Southwestern France, on Feb. 10, 2017. Regis Duvignau—ReutersA soldier trains an eagle during a military exercise at the Mont-de-Marsan airbase in southwestern France on Feb. 10, 2017.
Georges Gobet—AFP/Getty ImagesA military member carries an eagle to an exercise as he walks past cages of a falconry at the Mont-de-Marsan airbase in southwestern France on Feb. 10, 2017.
Georges Gobet—AFP/Getty ImagesDrones that were intercepted by eagles are being repaired following a military exercise at the Mont-de-Marsan airbase in southwestern France on Feb. 10, 2017.
Georges Gobet—AFP/Getty ImagesA golden eagle is pictured as part of a military training for combat against drones in Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base in Southwestern France, on Feb. 10, 2017. Regis Duvignau—ReutersA golden eagle carries a flying drone away during a military training exercise at Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base in Southwestern France on Feb. 10, 2017. Regis Duvignau—Reuters
